In May 2020 our dad, Ian Howard, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. A full body scan showed that the cancer had already spread to his bones, with a tumor in his left shoulder. 

We were devastated. Dad was a strong man, a fighter, but the cancer was strong too & it fought back. With COVID everywhere, the support he could access was limited, but from Day One Hospicare were there. At the end of the phone, on home visits, and when he was in hospital. When we couldn’t be with him in hospital, they were there. When we had questions, they were there. When new scans showed it had spread again, they were there. And when cancer struck the final blow just 11 months after initial diagnosis, they were there. 

Now we want to do what we can to help make sure that they can be there for someone else who needs they’re support. 

So we are going to challenge ourselves to dig deep in Dad’s memory in April 2022 & complete 10 half marathons. In 10 days. That’s right - 131 miles each in 10 days on the Thames towpath at the Phoenix Running TiT event! And Dad will be with us every step of the way - day 10, the culmination of our challenge, the day we cross the final finish line, will be the 1 year anniversary of his death. The event finishes outside a pub & you better believe we’ll be straight in for a JD & Coke to toast to him!

We would be so grateful if you could donate in memory of Dad & to spur us on. We’ll keep you all updated with training progress & on the week of the event. 

If you live in Exeter, Mid or East Devon, Hospiscare is your local adult hospice charity. Should you or a loved one need care for any type of terminal illness, their professional team of doctors and nurses are there to help. Their services are provided irrespective of race, religion, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, diagnosis or place of national origin.